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Valencia:

I hate this so much.

I absently adjust my sleeves – two swaths of fabric elegantly draped across my shoulders. I’m sure the effect is stunning, but right now they just feel like bands constricting my chest and arms.  I still can’t shake the feeling that they’re about to fall down, even though the dress is perfectly tailored.  And I don’t like the way the silky fabric rests on my chest and arms.  It’s so soft I forget it’s even there, but I can’t forget it either – like an itch that just never goes away.

I sigh.  I guess it could be worse.  The lining could’ve been just as scratchy as the shimmering fabric on top.

I shiver in the drafty air.  I’ve always hated wearing necklines below my collarbone – not because I think they’re distasteful, but because they’re distinctly uncomfortable in a way not many people would understand.  You know that psychological sense of repulsion you get when you accidentally eat something slimy?  Picture that, but with fabric.  It’d be so much better if I could at least put on a sweater or something – not ideal, but at least I’d be getting the same amount of sensory input all over.

I feel so cold and exposed right now.

I venture another look at Kit.  For some strange reason, he looks almost as uncomfortable as I am.  He’s being completely quiet for once, which is surprising because he always tends to be talkative before events – especially fancy ones where he gets to show off.  A wan smile tugs at my lips.  I’d think that under most circumstances, he’d be the first to steal the show here.  He looks absolutely stunning, after all.

“Hey Val,”  I glance up at him uncomfortably. “You look really pretty.”

Huh?

Kit smiles at me, almost nervously.  I can see a hint of a flush spreading across his cheeks like fire on a match, lighting an ember in my own heart.

Well what now?

I’m starting to feel it again – that familiar flutter in my chest, the heat glowing in my cheeks.  I can’t let myself start falling for him – it pops up every once in a while and I always have to kill it before it grows.  It’s painful, but I’m pretty sure it’s just saving us both from more heartache in the future.

It would be rude to leave that compliment hanging.

“You look…really nice too.”  I glance away, cheeks burning.  It’s only polite to reciprocate, but I really do mean it.  I actually think this might be the only time I’ve ever complimented him before, maybe because he’s actually being sweet this time, or maybe just because I never really thought to tell him before.

Oh well.

It’s happened before, and it’s always inconvenient, but if it’s any comfort I know it’s not going to last.  I know by now that no matter how strong these feelings seem now, they always disappear sooner or later – Kit can be sweet sometimes, but he’s also the most obnoxious person I’ve ever met, and I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon.

I squint back at him.  There really is something different though – I can’t place it, but he almost seems like he’s matured, like he’s somehow grown a couple of years in five minutes.

Wait….

I bite my lip to suppress a laugh.  His hair is inky black again, without a single strand of pink in sight.  Kit once joked about his eldest brother’s disapproval, saying he told him the pink hair “aged him down a good five years.”

I think I’m going to have to side with Eli on that one.

I can distinctly remember that day I first saw him again, the day I first found out that Rosemary was gone and that I was going to have to work with Kit of all people to get her back.  To be honest, I was shocked and rather horrified at seeing him at all, but I think I was even more shocked and horrified at his cotton candy hair.  I thought it looked absolutely horrible at the time – pure bias on my part, I guess –  but I think it really has grown on me.  I really do admire his confidence – I don’t think I could ever pull that off as well as he does!

Anyways.  I’m not exactly sure why the castle decided to change it, but it makes me kind of happy seeing his natural hair.  It looks so soft and smooth when it’s slicked back like that.  It’s so shiny too, dimly reflecting the golden glow of the candles like sun on a raven’s wing.

I crack a small smile.  Kit’s always been awfully attractive in black.

He suddenly locks my gaze, a knowing smirk toying with the corners of his mouth.  I freeze.

I saw you looking at me.

I think that’s what he’s saying right now.

Well that’s awkward.

“Your hair,” I blurt.  “It’s black again.”  A look of horror flashes across Kit’s eyes as his hand flies to his hair – as if he could somehow feel the color change.

“No way,” he whispers.  “You’re kidding, right?”  I shake my head slowly, watching Kit’s face crumple in defeat.  “I just got that re-dyed a week ago,” he wails, slumping back in his seat.

“It looks good though,”  I force a shaky smile.  I felt really shy telling him that, but I also really want him to know how good it looks.  Kit only groans.  “It’s plain, boring black.”

I’m not really sure how to answer that one.  I want to tell him how pretty it looks, but I’m sure he’ll tease me if I do…

“It looks good though!  You can’t even tell it was ever dyed to begin with.”

Kit narrows his eyes at me.  “Is that supposed to be a good thing?”  I freeze – that really sounded like I was insulting his pink hair, didn’t it?

“Yeah?  No no, I didn’t mean it in a bad way!  You know how the more you dye your hair, the drier it gets?”  The words are tumbling out like an uncontrollable verbal landslide now.  Kit shoots me a dirty look, probably considering his hair thoroughly insulted by now.  “Well your hair really soft and silky now!”

Something about that really didn’t sound quite right.

Maybe too casual?

“Oh, is it now?”  He laughs, shooting me a teasing smile.

Wait.

Did…did I just accidentally flirt with him?

My hand shoots to my mouth as blood suddenly rushes to my face.  I knew there was something wrong with that wording!  “Kit, you know I didn’t mean it like that.”  Kit’s brows shoot up in feigned surprise.  “Do I?”

“Yeah I’m pretty sure you do.” I turn away, lip curling in disgust.  You are so annoying.

A sudden movement catches my eye in the far back of the auditorium.  There’s a boy about our age sitting alone at a table, excitedly shoveling food in his mouth like a hyperactive duckling.   I watch as he dips his face to his fork, black curls flopping across his face as he bounces in his seat.  He pauses, and suddenly shoves the half-full plate away and grabs the one to his right.

Huh?

That’s the most horrendous display of manners I’ve seen so far in this place, and I’ve seen a lot in here.

I flinch at a sudden tap on my hand.  Speaking of which…

“Val,” Kit whispers.  I glance over warily.  He doesn’t have that awful slimy grin smeared across his face anymore, which I guess is a good sign. “Did I say something that bothered you?”  I stare down at my plate.

“Yeah.”  I sigh and force myself to meet his gaze again. “I just wish you wouldn’t tease me when I’m trying to give you an honest compliment.  It makes me feel self conscious, and that makes me feel really uncomfortable around you.”  Kit’s face softens.

“I see.”  He sighs.  “I’m really sorry about that, Val.  I’d never want to make you feel uncomfortable or anything.”  He cracks a nervous smile. “I appreciate you telling me, though,”

“It’s fine,”  I wince at the harshness of the tone, quickly bandaging it with a watery smile.  Kit grins back.

Yeah, Kit is completely obnoxious at times, but he really does try to make me feel safe and comfortable.  I think he’s one of the first people to actually try, to really listen to my perspective and understand, and maybe that’s why I still can’t help but feel so drawn to him.

 

Well this was an absolute nightmare to write – tbh I don’t really enjoy writing *waves hand* T H A T from because…idk it’s hard writing mushy stuff to begin with, and then seeing it a. about Kit b. from Val’s POV just makes it feel extra cursed XD

I do believe this is the second most cursed thing I’ve ever posted in here

For those of you who might remember Sasha’s brief appearance…I’m not sure anything I write in here can ever top the absolute cursedness of that introduction :’)